🇵🇭 BANTAY • Wild Encounter: Crazy Goats Climbing a Near Vertical Mountain Slope

"Those gravity-defying and death-don't-care goats just continue to stay at the almost vertical mountain slope in Sallacong, Bantay, Ilocos Sur."

The mountain is exceedingly steep and for a person to stand at that point, he will surely fall down. But wait, during my sight-seeing in a remote community called Sallacong or San Mariano, I was amazed to see goats just situated at the extremely steep slope of the mountain and they were just standing there still - don't know the reason why.

I think I just need the explanation of experts, could be scientists in general or biologists or anyone who is expert in this field to please explain why these goats are standing in this extremely steep slope of the mountain and not at the grassy plain?

In fact, the website, dailymail.co.uk has published an unbelievable photo taken in Italy featuring animals called the Alpine Ibex Goats climbing a nearly vertical dam without the fear of dying secondary to falling, uh!

Photo grabbed from dailymail.co.uk - photo posted for comparisson

Alpine Ibex Goats climbing a near vertical wall in Italy

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As for me, I think I have just encountered in person the Philippine version of this amazing feat and I saw it in Bantay, Ilocos Sur. Those gravity-defying and death-don't-care goats just continue to stay at the almost vertical mountain slope in Sallacong, Bantay, Ilocos Sur.

According to my research, the goats in Italy were not just here to show-off or to bring a great big show but eccentrically, they are here to graze! Yes, to graze, not grass but to lick the stones for their salt.

Somehow, I can relate these scientific findings to this strange encounter I have seen in Sallacong. Actually, the slope where the goats were situated was in fact an altered mountain. It was scraped to give way for a multi-billion irrigation project. 

To prevent land slides to the irrigation facility, the mountain slope, almost vertical, has been somewhat "cemented," not exactly cemented but they have applied chemicals to the mountain to control soil erosion.

Amazingly, these goats have found their new home. Below are my photos with the attempt to compare the said phenomenon in Italy. Since they are the same goats, they may have the same purpose here in Sallacong as what is happening in Italy.

Well, just an unforgettable wildlife encounter in this hidden community and who would expect that in this remote place, I can find these things.

I am glad that  I bravely entered this place because my instinct was just true that there is something interesting to be discovered in this place.

I won't say my photos are as astonishing as the photos of the goats in Italy but at least, I am trying to connect this phenomenon there and for that, that could be close enough :)) /end

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